Kudos to my resilient partner and Bead Soup Blog Party hostess, Lori Anderson. I don’t know how she managed to survive organizing over 540 of us, with three different reveal dates, and a host of unanticipated medical issues. Lori, you’re seriously amazing!

The Bead Soup Blog Party (BSBP) happens only once a year. By signing up in January, all participants agreed to have Lori pair us with another jewelry designer; to have the partners exchange a quality package of beads; to make one or more pieces of jewelry with those beads adding in whatever we needed or wanted from our own stash; to use both the focal piece and the clasp we were sent; and to post our creations on the assigned reveal date.

Here are the beads I received from Lori at the end of February:

The whole idea of receiving beads chosen by someone else is to embrace the challenge. The selection I received from Lori was full of fun pieces. But I admit to being way out of my comfort zone as I pondered how I would be using them. The ceramic piece by Elaine Ray was very cool looking with beautiful shades of blue and purple, and very much bigger than what I am used to working with. (2 +3/8″ in diameter.) I didn’t even think about what I was going to do with the rest of the soup until I had a plan for that focal piece. No matter how hard I listened for it, it was not saying “necklace” to me. Instead it said, “brooch!”

The back story:

I’ve been experimenting a little with fold forming, so I knew I wanted to fold some silver sheet, enhance it, and find a way to attach it to the ceramic piece. I drilled three holes in the ceramic. (Yes, it made me very nervous! But I thought, “hey, I’m used to drilling rocks and glass, so I should be able to drill this too…”) I folded, hammered and stamped the silver piece. I soldered two lengths of 16 gauge wire to the back of the silver piece to use as rivets. Before riveting the piece on place, I punched 4 holes in it so I could attach 2 short strands of beads. A nod to necklace I didn’t make. I pushed the wires through the holes in the ceramic, and coiled them to finish the back of the rivet. I did not take the time to engineer a pin catch with rivets. (That would have been a great plan, and I wish I had done it.) Instead I had a plastic pin back, that I covered with the sari silk that was part of my soup. It’s held in place with a chemical bond. (That’s the fancy way of saying epoxy.) The last little bit on the back, that looks like a belly button, is a purple rubber washer with a bead inside. It covers the third hole I never used.

I wish these photos did a better job in showing the pretty periwinkle color of the glass beads that Lori made herself. I knew right away I wanted to use them with the dyed jade beads (center of necklace) she sent. The darker beads are actually patina-ted copper in a purplish blue. The smaller light beads are amethyst. I was so sure I would be making an asymmetrical necklace with my soup. Surprise. I must have needed symmetry when I put this together!

The jade beads below really challenged me too. I liked the potential of the two holes, and had a lot of ideas for them, none of which panned out. I kept trying to mix the color with complimentary colors, getting out the color wheel, trying all manner of combinations. I ended up having better luck bringing out their greener side. Even with the pearls and chain, the holes looked out of proportion with the finer wire until I added the green leather. I spent much more time with these than I thought I would, but I really enjoyed the challenge and the result.

Lori’s own lampwork beads (above) and the silver shell beads from Bali (below) were my most favorite parts of the soup she sent. I love the ease and comfort of an elastic bracelet. I haven’t taken this one off since I made it. It looks great next to my watch and I get to admire the silver shells and smile whenever I check the time! Thanks Lori. This bead soup party has been such a fun experience, and I learned a lot.

That’s my reveal, but there is SO much more to see. You simply must start with my partner, Lori Anderson, the Bead Soup hostess herself! Then continue to hop through as many of the participants in the list below as you would like. Just click on the link next to their name.

Hey Penny, I just tried to leave a comment on your blog. You had great pieces! I just wasn’t sure which button to push to leave the comment. Hope it’s there. There might even be 2. (My Finnish is limited to 0!)

Thanks Lisa. I supported the ceramic piece on a flat bed of hot glue, in a pyrex dish. Then I filled the dish with water to cover the piece and drilled slowly with a diamond drill bit. I was nervous, but it went very smoothly.

OMG. You are truly amazing. Making a brooch was an incredible idea, idea but then to drill holes (you’re my hero, way braver than I am), AND to make that beautiful fold formed piece…..incredibly impressed. You need to show Elaine Ray because I’ll bet she’ll flip at the beauty. I’m so glad I passed along that hoarded piece because I would have never done it justice regardless of how much I loved it.

The necklace is sweet …. I still can’t find any more of that purple jade so I love how you showcased it. The EARRINGS….woah. Imagination? I love love love your style.

And the bracelet is one I’d wear a lot, too. Love the beads you paired the silver with.

Thinking back, I really hope I didn’t disappoint you … it seems I sent all my partners chunky beads but I loved them myself…And you guys were so very generous with me in more ways than one. I truly loved working with your soup and appreciate everything so much!

Oh Lori! Your soup was absolutely NOT disappointing! I was challenged by the ceramic piece but that doesn’t mean I didn’t like figuring it out. You have been a GREAT partner. I’m so glad I was paired up with you. It was tremendous fun. I’ll admit I was nervous about drilling the piece, but I had a plan B in mind if it broke. (I’m really glad it didn’t…)
I was blown away with the pieces you made with the beads I sent to you.
This bead soup has been a blast. I hope it hasn’t taken too much of a toll on you. xo

I love all of your beautiful creations and it’s hard to pick a favorite but if pushed I’d say the brooch is a winner! Oh, and the earrings. Oh , and the bracelet. Oh, and the necklace. You have wonderful style and amazing talent. I will be watching you for more in the future!!! Thank you for sharing your creations.

Barbara,
All your jewelry pieces are just gorgeous and well executed but this brooch is just extraordinary. The combination of materials and the design, make of this a truly piece of art. I just love it, love it, love it. I am so happy I found your blog through the BSBP.

Each piece is fab, really! I thought the brooch was my favourite – I find it to very sci-fi-ish; I can see it being worn on a space station somewhere – but then I saw your pair of blue earrings and fell in love with its quiet simplicity. And then I laid eyes on your shell bracelet. I can completely understand why it hasn’t come off your wrist. Beautiful work all around!

Oh, my, that brooch….. THAT BROOCH!!!! It’s so amazing and I am so impressed. I am first impressed by the fact that you DRILLED IT!!!! What courage. But, it is also just absolutely gorgeous. I would so wear that. You really nailed this one, girl. Great job!

the brooch is so creative…! i love how you added on that little silver piece that makes it so much more eye-catching! i can see how the shell bracelet is an everyday wear… it’s such an easy match for almost any outfit.. but i must say my absolute favourite are the green jade earrings… i’m just so in love with that pair..!

Oh, Barbara – you are a brave, brave woman! And it paid off big time! I love the fold-forming you included – it enhances Elaine Ray’s gorgeous focal perfectly (and the seed bead nod to the necklace that never was – brilliant in my opinion!). The purple and periwinkle necklace is so sweet – love those happy colors and it looks to be the perfect length for wearing with lots of different outfits. Your earrings are so sweet and clever – love how you approached those two-hole beads – the green plays with that yellow perfectly, and I love how you added the swinging dangles to Lori’s periwinkle beads – what a fun combo! And the bracelet – that color combo is scrumptious – not only that, it is lovely AND easy to wear!

Your pieces are all wonderful. I really like your elastic bracelet with the silver shells, too. So cute. But that brooch is awesome. I’ve been wanting to try some brooches and you’ve really inspired me. Love all the different techniques and textures you used in the brooch.

Wow! I am impressed that you can come up with so many beautiful creations and they all exude very different feel. I would never have thought to make a brooch with the focal and you did it in such a creative way. The earrings are lovely too, especially the ones with the green button beads. Love those earrings. I would wear the bracelet all the time too.

What a lovely cooking, Barbara! The brooch is beautiful! Like the story behind the piece, what has resulted in the fished design ;0) The most beautiful art pieces always are a result of unforeseen hazards! Also your other creations are very charming – very well done, my dear!

Barbara, what a wonder you are. When I look at each person’s soup I like to imagine what I’d do with it myself. And never in a million years would I imagine what you came up with here. Such good design, excellent execution, beautiful vision. I have always known that you’re good, but this truly shows off HOW good you are. Truly amazing work. (Yes, I’m that impressed, can you tell?)

I am awestruck with your brooch. Oh the colors. You do such great metal clay work. I am just starting. A little scared and shy with the torch. Thanks for dropping by my blog. Will visit you again. Dita.http://www.alankarshilpa.blogspot.com

I truly love all your designs – especially the brooch/pin and the earrings – super fun designs and the way you mixed all the colors in your necklaces is fantastic – but the green earrings are my absolute favorite!! I read your other post about continuing on to hop around the BSBP blogs and I’m doing the same thing,…a few a day,…taking it slow and easy. I figure I’ll be done by about Christmas!! LOL!! ;-)

I love what you did with your soup. The brooch is inspired – I’m taking tentative first steps into metal work so it was inspiring to see what you did. I especially love the bracelet with the silver shells. Reminds me of “mary, mary quite contrary”.

How do I leave a comment on a reveal that has left me speechless!? Let me TRY to express my thoughts.
First, I must say that your photos are exceptional; crisp, clear, with so many details in focus. (All the better to see you with, my dear!)
Second, your designs are simply amazing. That brooch was inspired! I love the way it has both a modern and rustic feel to it at the same time from the metal and ceramic combination. So lovely! Your necklace, earrings, and bracelet are all also so awesome. I could sit and admire them for some time.
How great that you were paired with Lori and treated her soup with such skilled fingers and a talented eye. Wonderful job!!